As anyone who has listened to at least a handful of SACD discs can tell
you, all SACDs are not created equal. In fact, contrary to popular
belief, the SACD logo does not guarantee a quality recording or
dramatically improved audio experience over their 16-bit CD
counterparts. (Neither does the DVD-Audio logo, for that matter).

However, there are those SACDs that stand above the fray and prove that
this format, however feebly marketed and implemented, does have merit
and should remain a viable entity, hopefully to one day make the
transition into the mainstream whereby a consumer simply buys a CD that
just happens to be an SACD (or DVD-A). The subject of this review is
just such a recording.

Upon receiving the Martin Taylor
SACD Artistry, I was fully prepared to hate it. Oh, I had a feeling it
would sound good, but I just knew it wasn’t really my style of music.
In fact, as I write this, it’s playing in the background and I do feel
a slight tug at my eyelids, but the sheer quality of the recording
compels me to keep it playing and makes me appreciate the music and the
artist more than I would, say, if I was flipping through radio stations
and landed on Coast 103 Light FM.

Martin Taylor is a self-taught and extremely accomplished guitarist
with a career spanning over 30 years. He began playing at the age of
four when his father gave him a small acoustic guitar as a present. His
official website is chock full of awards and accolades he’s received,
among them honors from the Queen herself. Either this guy thinks a
whole hell of a lot of himself, or he’s pretty damn good. Fortunately
for him, the latter is true.

Artistry was originally released in 1992 on Linn Records and has been
re-mastered by Linn for SACD. Linn Records is a division of the highly
acclaimed audio/video component manufacturer Linn Products. Based in
Glasgow, Scotland, Linn has been manufacturing some of the world’s
finest audio gear since 1972. Linn Records was born out of their pure
love for music and their frustration with the poor audio quality of
many vinyl records. So they did what any enterprising young company
would do and decided to press their own records. Since then, Linn
Records has evolved into a much respected independent label with over
150 recordings – mostly by classical, jazz and British and/or Scottish
artists. Needless to say I don’t think you’ll be seeing the next
Britney Spears album put out by Linn Records. (Then again, if she keeps
going the way she’s going, we may never see another Britney Spears
album, period.)

Somewhat surprisingly, this jazz solo SACD is produced by none other
than Steve Howe of YES fame. Who would have thought that one day Howe
would program the “adult contemporary” station into his radio tuner?
Not me. Alas, his face is plastered on the inside of the liner notes
and Martin thanks him profusely for his “talent” and “vegetarian
cuisine.” The liner notes go on further to explain that Taylor’s not
satisfied to play just any old guitar and doesn’t, in fact, play either
a Martin or Taylor guitar, but rather a customized Yamaha AEX “Martin
Taylor” Stereo guitar. As is evident on this SACD, this customized
guitar is truly special and gives the illusion one is hearing two
guitars playing at once in perfect harmony. This effect is so
convincing to me, at least, that I scour the liner notes looking for
another guitarist credit, but no such credit exists. It’s all Taylor.

As with many of today’s “jazz” artists, Taylor mainly sticks to his
interpretations of the standards, but infuses some contemporary whimsy
into songs such as The Beatles’ “Here There and Everywhere” and “Day
Tripper.” His timing and patience on “Here There and Everywhere” is
inspiring, while his speed and control on “Day Tripper” are nothing
short of amazing. Let me tell you, this guy can play the guitar. Makes
me wonder if he might not do the world of music a better service by
throwing on an AC/DC t-shirt, strapping on a Fender and touring with
Metallica. (I’m kidding, of course. Please don’t write in.)

As I said before, this is not really my kind of music, but I know
talent when I hear it and this guy is incredible, as is his instrument.
Who knew a guitar had than much range? Bass notes have so much weight
to them and the dynamic range on the top end can only be described as
ethereal. Credit also the quality of the SACD mastering for this.
Taylor’s guitar playing is so engaging that one simply doesn’t notice
the absence of other instruments. Now, would this be something I would
cruise down the road and listen to? No, not if I want to stay awake.
But the quality of the SACD and Taylor’s talent are both undeniable,
and for those, I’ll hang onto this disc and use it as a reference by
which to judge the quality of the components in my system.